The Career Freshman: Five Benefits of Being in an Entry-Level Position

This might sound like an oxymoron, but there are true benefits to being in an entry-level position (no, really!). Starting off in a new company, fresh out of college with no real experience level under your belt or beginning in a completely new field way after college could seem like a step back professionally, as you envision endless days of rushing to get coffee, make copies, answer phone calls and doing very little significant work.

Don’t fret in your position just yet. Working your way up the corporate ladder comes with its difficult times, but it is imperative to look at the bright side to being a little lower on the company totem pole. Seize the opportunity of being an entry-level professional to your advantage, and keep in mind these perks you will come out of it with:

The Learning Experience

Being an entry-level employee is all about the learning experience you receive while being a beginner in the field or company. This experience is invaluable because many mid and upper-level executives have years of professional knowledge, which could make for good examples of what and what not to do in your industry, and a great opportunity to make contacts and network.

The experience of learning from seasoned professionals in your field (while also getting paid!) is one that you do not want to ignore and resent just because you are a little lower on the totem pole at work. Many other executives do not have the chance to sit back and learn while on the job, so take this aspect of your position as having an upper-hand.

The Option to Explore Other Opportunities

One of the most useful benefits of being an entry-level employee is the time and space you get to explore opportunities in and outside your company. This could be preparing for another career path or choosing to pursue a higher education in order to increase your overall market worth in your field. Just beginning in your field, you have the option to explore other paths and possibilities before anything is truly set in stone for you. Take your time as an employee to explore options you might want to look further into before you are solidified in your field. It might prove difficult to change your career path completely after 10 or so years in the same field.

” It may seem like doing menial work like making copies and answering phone calls is redundant and disrespectful, but you never know if how you do it is being noticed.”

When you start out, this is what you do. You PAY YOUR DUES. I had to do it, the people who are further along at your workplace, they had to do it. The idea that you are being disrespected when you are expected to start at the bottom like everyone did else implies that you have a sense of entitlement that you don’t really deserve. You cannot expect that your new workplace fire someone in order to bring you in when you have no experience and do not know how to work with their particular clientele. There is a reason the position is called “entry level”.